Really high oil temp.

[Regimof]

Today's question.

We all decided to go for a cruise today to some of our favorite roads in WI. It was hot today. 90 plus and THICK. Soupy thick. It ran fine at peppy cruising speeds but after 15 to 20 minutes at a really vigorous pace on a twisty road my oil temp shot up to around 280. High enough to get the "check gauges" light on. Its done something like this once before on a run to 150 where the oil temp shot up but not as high as today. It seems to fluctuate often.

The oil has about 3500 miles on it. I just checked it yesterday and the correct amount is in there. It averaged about 230 all day but any amount of picking up the pace made oil temps increase noticeably.

Admittedly as I've been fixing the nagging things on this car I haven't paid much attention to oil temp so I'm not sure what's normal.

So. Should I be concerned?

[GOLDCYLON]

Today's question.

We all decided to go for a cruise today to some of our favorite roads in WI. It was hot today. 90 plus and THICK. Soupy thick. It ran fine at peppy cruising speeds but after 15 to 20 minutes at a really vigorous pace on a twisty road my oil temp shot up to around 280. High enough to get the "check gauges" light on. Its done something like this once before on a run to 150 where the oil temp shot up but not as high as today. It seems to fluctuate often.

The oil has about 3500 miles on it. I just checked it yesterday and the correct amount is in there. It averaged about 230 all day but any amount of picking up the pace made oil temps increase noticeably.

Admittedly as I've been fixing the nagging things on this car I haven't paid much attention to oil temp so I'm not sure what's normal.

So. Should I be concerned?

Yes if the check gauges light came on. Our cars have a separate oil cooler so get under the car and make sure a plastic bag or leaves or derbies are not blocking the fins on the business end of the cooler. If the fins are bent and damaged try to straighten them out with a pair of needle nose pliers very gently.

[Regimof]

I assume that's the little radiator right under the nose of the car? What if there is nothing blocking it or wrong with it

[We Gone]

The oil cooler is sandwiched in with the radiator and AC condenser. how was your water temp? What was your oil pressure?

[Regimof]

They were spot on. No issues except high oil temp

[Dynomite]

Today's question.

We all decided to go for a cruise today to some of our favorite roads in WI. It was hot today. 90 plus and THICK. Soupy thick. It ran fine at peppy cruising speeds but after 15 to 20 minutes at a really vigorous pace on a twisty road my oil temp shot up to around 280. High enough to get the "check gauges" light on. Its done something like this once before on a run to 150 where the oil temp shot up but not as high as today. It seems to fluctuate often.

The oil has about 3500 miles on it. I just checked it yesterday and the correct amount is in there. It averaged about 230 all day but any amount of picking up the pace made oil temps increase noticeably.

Admittedly as I've been fixing the nagging things on this car I haven't paid much attention to oil temp so I'm not sure what's normal.

So. Should I be concerned?

Could be clogged oil cooler (Air Flow Restricted) as others have suggested or the Oil Temperature Sensor needs replacement. The fluctuation seems to indicate the Oil Temperature sensor/sender or something else within the Oil Filter Adapter blocking the oil flow or even oil flow restricted through the Oil Cooler.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.corvetteforum.com-vbulletin/400x300-1/80-soilfilterhousinglabel_zps4cacf14a_1__d0e1c161f9cb 4d877e3c05cb44ccf09b8c61ffd4.jpghttps://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.corvetteforum.com-vbulletin/400x300-1/80-e16778a7_93e5_454c_807d_3d136a877a75_1__970a85d935 8473100cc8de195b4ff6ed65e13e8c.jpg

Engine Lubrication System Functional Discussion (http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-zr-1-discussion/3005470-tech-info-lt5-modifications-rebuild-tricks-500-hp.html#post1580467622)

[Jagdpanzer]

What was your coolant temp when this occurred?
Usually oil and coolant temps track pretty close to one another during street driving.

[Regimof]

What was your coolant temp when this occurred?
Usually oil and coolant temps track pretty close to one another during street driving.


I didn't look at the exact coolant temp but the gauge indicated it was perfectly normal. Coolant wasn't anywhere near overheating

[Jagdpanzer]

In the driving conditions you've mentioned to see that much difference (50 degrees F) between oil and coolant temperatures these are two possibilities I would look at in addition to the oil cooler inspection others have mentioned:
- Something defective with the oil temperature sensor or circuit. The oil temp sensor has two outputs. One is internally grounded and it's output is directly connected to the coolant temperature gauge. The other is externally grounded and output directly connected to the ECM which triggers the high temperature alarm and provides input for the digital oil temp display when selected.
- Something abnormal going on within the engine that is creating a lot of heat for the oil to deal with which could be serious in which case you should have the engine inspected by a qualified person.

[ssrszz4]

I'm betting it's a sensor.

Sent from my XT1585 using ZR-1 Net Registry mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=90383)

[Regimof]

I'm assuming that changing the oil temp sensor is a plug and play deal if it's just right near the filter.

I've already made the decision to get it to haibeck come spring. There are just too many small things that I'm not qualified to diagnose. I want to get it as it should be. He seems to be the expert.

[BigJohn]

Have you tried keeping your RPM's up?

[Regimof]

Have you tried keeping your RPM's up?


Pretty sure that's when the oil temp started to climb

[BigJohn]

Pretty sure that's when the oil temp started to climb

My car does not get intake and cooling air from under the car.
I have larger oil coolers and radiator.
What works for me my not help a stock bodied car.

[Mr.Yuck]

Pretty sure that's when the oil temp started to climb
Oil will absorb more heat than coolant so if your not overheating your oil should not read hotter. Assuming oil pressure and volume are not an issue. You can take an infrared heat gun and take some basic readings next to the sensor and throughout the system by the cooler and determine if you have a gauge issue a sensor or your oil is actually boiling which I am highly doubtful of. We have a shop in South Milwaukee you're more than welcome to come down and I'll take a look at it for you.

Sent from my 2PS64 using ZR-1 Net Registry mobile app (http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=90383)

[PhillipsLT5]

Is there a thermostat of sorts that opens and closes like with engine coolant to allow oil to pass thru cooler, if so this could be a issue, or does oil always run thru cooler

[Jagdpanzer]

Good point, yes, there is a thermostat valve in the filter housing that controls the oil diverted through the oil cooler once the engine is at running temperature. Refer to the photo Dynomite posted earlier.

[Regimof]

Ok. So I bought the sensor and found where it goes. I was reading on another form and it was stated that it requires a special wrench to do this? It doesn't seem all that awful to get to if you take that intake tube away. Is this true? Do I need a special wrench? Also it seems as if it will be a message with the oil leaking out. Is it best to just do an oil change along with it?

[Dynomite]

Left Click Engine Lubrication System Functional Discussion (http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-zr-1-discussion/3005470-tech-info-lt5-modifications-rebuild-tricks-500-hp.html#post1580467622)

Let the Z sit over night so the oil drains back out of the Oil Filter/Oil Filter Adapter. Use a 19mm Deep socket 3/8 inch drive. Or use a 19mm Open End wrench :cheers:

You can remove the two Oil Cooler Lines from the Oil Filter Adapter for more room as you like :thumbsup:

Put a little Permatex on the threads of the New Sender before installing that in the Oil Filter Adapter.


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.corvetteforum.com-vbulletin/400x400-1/80-sspermatex300_zpsaf26fa81_1__37573c22ba26fb97624d1 9dc0c48cc914bf0d3f7.jpg